South Charleston still cleaning up after storm

July 5, 2012

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens said the city is still in cleanup mode after hearing reports from city officials about storm damage at Thursday night's City Council meeting.More than 70 percent of the city now has power, according to Mullens, after a massive windstorm ripped through West Virginia last Friday night."We went ward by ward in this city ... and about 85 percent has been cleaned up. I think that's pretty impressive considering the war zone we were looking at," Mullens said. "There is still a lot of work to do, there's still folks out there suffering."While power lines and trees were down in many areas, Mullens said damage on 10th Street stood out."There was a car that had been severely damaged by a tree and one home had significant damage to the roofing where a tree had landed on it," he said.

Electricity at Mullens' home was restored Wednesday afternoon. Appalachian Power predicts full restoration at the latest Sunday night.Drinking water is being given away in the South Charleston Community Center parking lot from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Mullens said. Proud Eagle Inc. donated 2,000 cases of water and they'll be available until they're gone.Also at the meeting, council members approved a $6,600 grant from the state to help replace seating at the Labelle Theater, Mullens said.